BRADFORD Council staff have been donating food to families this Christmas as part of its "reverse advent calendar" scheme.

Staff from across Children’s Services have taken the lead in raising donations for the Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank by asking people to give rather than eat to celebrate each December day.

Most will mark the run-up to Christmas by eating a chocolate from an advent calendar, but the Council wants people to consider those less fortunate by taking each day to donate non-perishable goods to the food bank.

Councillor Adrian Farley, Portfolio Holder for Children and Families, said: "Many families living in Bradford district will not be gearing up for the Christmas they would hope for, many will be struggling to provide for their basic needs."

The Food Bank was giving out around 28 food parcels a month in 2002, but now it donates around 1,100.

During November and December many staff from across the whole of the council have got involved with the "reverse advent calendar".

Last week, the Food Bank collected a large selection of items from Margaret McMillan Tower, where all the collection boxes were brought from various Council buildings ready to be distributed to those families most in need.

Neil Terry, a member of staff in the Youth Offending Team who set up the idea of the reverse advent calendars, said: "Working in Children’s Social Care, we are all too aware of the impact austerity is having on the people of Bradford."